3-star DL Arden Walker picks Missouri
Cherry Creek (Co.) defensive end Arden Walker was down to three schools heading into Wednesday's announcement - Missouri, UCLA, and Colorado.
In the end, the Missouri Tigers landed the three-star prospect, adding another key piece to their defense in the 2021 class. He announced the decision on Instagram Live moments ago.
"I'm excited, so excited," Walker said of his commitment. "I knew last week. Coach (Brick) Haley, Coach (Ryan) Walters, and Coach (Eli) Drink(witz) - they talk to me almost everyday. They put trust in me and I put trust in them."
Walker's familiarity with the Missouri program goes way back.
He's known defensive line coach Brick Haley since the ninth grade. He also camped at Missouri as a freshman and sophomore as well, where he got to work one-on-one with Haley.
"They like my anticipation and pass rush," he said. "I think that's been a plus for me in terms of where they see me in my recruiting. I don't know position they like me at since I'm being recruited as kind of a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end, so it really depends."
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound prospect has taken numerous virtual visits with Missouri's staff throughout the year and has also gotten familiar with head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
"In terms of Drinkwitz, our relationship is very strong and he really sparked my commitment too. As a head coach, he has that growth mindset in moving toward trying to be great and that's what I want to be around."
Walker also kept in touch with a handful of current Tiger commitments as well throughout the process.
"Mekhi (Wingo) also had a big impact on me committing as well," Walker noted. "I feel like that's somebody I could definitely see myself playing with. Also Kyran Montgomery and Tyler Macon were a part of it too, trying to get me to lean that way and it ended up happening."
With Walker officially in the class, Missouri now has 22 signees in the 2021 class. He's also the eighth defensive line pledge - joining Mekhi Wingo, Travion Ford, Jonathan Jones, Kyran Montgomery, along with JUCO products Shemar Pearl, Daniel Robledo, and Realus George.